Inhabitots | Your guide to green parenting, eco baby & green kids

Juniorbeads: Cheery Nontoxic Necklaces for Stylish Girls

by Beth Shea, 05/20/13 filed under: green kids

Kids go from the teething stage to the terrible twos phase to becoming tween fashionistas before you know it. With this fast-paced evolution in mind, Chewbeads, the company behind the glorious nontoxic teething jewelry we previously featured for moms and babies, have added Juniorbeads to their colorful collection. These cheery and vibrant necklaces are not only hip, they’re completely safe for dress-up play and everyday wear for little ladies ages 3 and up. Juniorbeads are made from 100% silicone and free of BPA, phthalates, lead, cadmium and metals and countless other chemicals that typically taint fashion jewelry for kids. More features that set Juniorbeads apart: they can be cleaned in the dishwasher, and they have a breakaway clasp for added safety. A strand or two of Juniorbeads would make the perfect gift for a big sister, who can wear her necklace in tandem with mom wearing her Chewbeads. Available in an array of bold colors from cherry red to deep sea blue and punchy pink, to beads that glow in the dark, get your sweet gal some Juniorbeads before you wake up one morning and find she’s gone from tween to teen overnight.

+ Juniorbeads $19.50

+ Juniorbeads

Ready, Set, Baby! is a Digital Guide to Raising Baby for the iPad Generation of Parents

by Jennifer Chait, 05/20/13 filed under: baby feeding, books, breastfeeding, green baby, parenting

Parents of newborns and babies are never at a loss when it comes to baby related questions and quandaries, and Ready, Set, Baby! is a virtual dream come true for a new generation of moms and dads who are accustomed to having information at their fingertips (literally). Ready, Set, Baby! is a fully interactive e-book available for the iPad, iPhone, Nook and Kindle, so no matter where you are, you always have baby advice close at hand. The interactive book is written by award-winning author and producer Maureen Connolly (Unbuttoned, The Dr. Oz Show) but also features advice from 5 top notch experts including a board certified pediatrician, a nationally certified child passenger safety instructor, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, a pediatric sleep consultant and certified Gentle Sleep Coach and a DONA-trained postpartum doula. The book features a whopping 80 instructional videos, an easy-to-navigate interface, a pop-up glossary of terms, safety guidelines, and newborn and baby product suggestions. Additionally, Ready, Set, Baby! is paper-free, inexpensive and handy to carry around with you. Keep reading to learn more about this go-anywhere baby book.

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Kids Can Transform Boxes into People, Pets, Robots, Vehicles & More Using Box Props by Makedo

by Sherrell Dorsey, 05/20/13 filed under: craft, diy kids crafts, education, green gifts, green toys

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Top 6 Green Play Mats for Babies and Toddlers

by Julie Seguss, 05/19/13 filed under: green baby, green design

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Kids Build Dream Homes with qb Playhouses

by Beth Shea, 05/19/13 filed under: eco play, eco toddler, green kids

Kids are full of boundless, vibrant creativity, and qb Playhouses enable a child to channel his or her fanciful imagination and colorful take on life into a one-of a-kind miniature abode. Via an easy, 1-2-3 process: “Choose, Build, Play,” “everything is possible” when it comes to designing and customizing a qb playhouse. What a wonderful philosophy to encourage a child’s dreams.

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Ahoy Matey! Adorable Pirate Themed Vegan Play Food Set

by Jennifer Chait, 05/19/13 filed under: eco play, eco toddler, green kids, green toys

Need some fresh play food to brighten up your child’s vegan play kitchen? Check out this adorable Tofu Scramble play food set. This personable set includes a plush tofu, asparagus and mushroom outfitted in perfect pirate patches, making for a hearty tofu scramble trio. The set is handmade with ecospun felt and cotton linen; and all the cute faces are hand-sewn so each is unique and safe for younger chefs in training!

+ Tofu Scramble Pirate Plush Set $42.00

+ Panda with Cookie

New Report Finds Over 5,000 Children’s Products Contain Toxic Chemicals

by Jennifer Chait, 05/18/13 filed under: green baby, green family, green kids, health & body, news, toxins

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

According to reports filed with the Washington State Department of Ecology, over 5000 children’s products contain toxic chemicals that are linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and reproductive problems. The Washington Toxics Coalition and Safer States performed an analysis of the reports and found that several major companies that manufacture kids’ products are using a total of 41 chemicals identified by Ecology as a concern for children’s health. Some of these problematic chemicals include toxic metals such as cadmium, mercury, and antimony, plus organic compounds such as phthalates. Walmart, Gap, Gymboree, Hallmark and H & M are just some of the companies who admit they use these chemicals in various products marketed specifically to children and adolescents. The report notes that the toxic products include items such as children’s clothing and footwear, personal care products, baby products, toys, car seats, and arts and craft supplies. Some specific products containing harmful chemicals include:

Hallmark party hats which contain cancer-causing arsenic.
Graco car seats which contain a toxic flame retardant TBBPA (tetrabromobisphenol A).
Claire’s cosmetics which contain cancer-causing formaldehyde.
Walmart dolls which contain hormone-disrupting bisphenol A (BPA).

Erika Schreder, science director for the Washington Toxics Coalition notes, “The data shows store shelves remain full of toxic chemicals that we know are a concern for children’s health. These reports are critical for understanding the presence of toxic chemicals in our homes and the marketplace.”

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Gearing Up for the Dog Days of Summer With Inhabitots’ Favorite Canine-Related Stories

by Beth Shea, 05/18/13 filed under: eco toddler, green design, green family, green kids

Image Courtesy of Shutterstock

The sultry dog days of summer are nearing, so we’ve rounded up Inhabitots’ favorite canine-related stories! If you live in a locale where temperatures continue to drop at night during the summer months, check out our story on how to make sweaters out of your dog’s fur. Thinking of adding a four-legged friend to your family? Be sure to check out these 8 questions to ask before adopting a dog. Whether you’re out walking your dog or your kids like to approach dogs when out and about, here’s a quick lesson in dog safety that can help prevent dog bites. If you love dogs but adopting a pooch isn’t in the cards, consider propping up one of Marc Tetro’s puppy pop-outs as cute canine decor. Does everyone in your family constantly lose socks and gloves? Don’t render the pair obsolete — instead upcycle strays into adorable plush puppies via Miyako Kanamori’s DIY craft books. Artist Amelia Santiago creates amazing lifelike miniature versions of your beloved pet using 100% wool felt in her pet portrait sculptures. Robert Bradford impresses with his recycled toy dog sculptures that are chic and cheery. Star Wars fans and dog lovers will be delighted by Katie Mello’s hilarious AT-AT costume for dogs.